Sabbath Rest

In today’s Gospel, we read: “As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the Sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.  At this the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"  He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?"  Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."  Mark 2: 23 – 28

I always find this to be an interesting reading as Jesus takes on the Pharisees and sets them straight.  The Sabbath rest is something we do not always observe in our face paced world.  We need to take the time to pause, stop and quiet ourselves so that we can be really present for God and others.  As we take the time to pause and stop we are better able to be present to others.  In the days ahead let us make a sincere effort to be slow down and relish God’s immense love for us.

Pat Schifini, OSU